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We must take bullying seriously

Because of bullies, have you ever been worried about starting school? Even with the Bully Free Starts With Me campaign in place, these efforts don't do any good if those in charge don't follow through.

Kids still think it makes them look cool to bully other kids and are like "look at me I'm tough." It's unacceptable when nothing happens to take care of the problem.

Our state legislature is nearing final approval of a bill defining and prohibiting bullying in Montana, the only state without an anti-bullying law. But I think it's going to make kids want to do it more — like "ohhhhh look at me, I'm breaking the law, and I'm a bad kid."

I hate when other kids get bullied.

When I was going to middle school before I got home-schooled, I got bullied pretty much every day, and I reported it and reported it and nothing ever happened and nothing ever changed. Often I would get blamed and get in trouble.

When I think of bullies, I think of parents, siblings, kids, peers, teachers exboyfriends/girlfriends, exfriends — mostly anyone you know or come in contact with. And questions arise. How do we deal with it? Who do we tell? Who can we trust to take care of this?

We should be able to trust our principal, teachers, parents and friends. Stricter bullying policies, like detentions and suspensions, should be in place and there should be more cameras to catch people in the act.

There also needs to be support groups for victims of bullying with other peers and teachers.

Jacquelyn Jenson is a home-schooled sophomore and a member of the Tribune's Teen Panel.

Ask Jacquelyn

Like our Ask Carli teen advice column that appears frequently on this page, teen panelist Jacquelyn Jenson will debut a teen advice column of her own on this page soon. Teens, if you have questions you would like Jacquelyn to help you with, send them to Jacquelyn at askjackie4@yahoo.com.